The Gallery - Episode 1: Call of the Starseed | Game Brain

The Gallery - Episode 1: Call of the Starseed Game Cover

About

In "The Gallery: Episode 1 - Call of the Starseed," players embark on a sci-fi adventure inspired by 80's fantasy films, searching for their twin sister who has left a mysterious message. The game boasts roomscale movement and interaction, and is set in a cosmic world filled with puzzles and eccentric characters. This is the first episode in the award-winning VR adventure series.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

The Gallery - Episode 1: Call of the Starseed screenshot

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,294 reviews

story256 positive mentions

replayability12 negative mentions

Incredible graphics and immersive environments that showcase the potential of VR.
Engaging story with interesting characters and a compelling narrative.
Innovative inventory system that enhances the VR experience.

Very short gameplay, typically around 1.5 to 2 hours, which feels insufficient for the price.
Limited number of puzzles, making the game feel more like an interactive experience than a full game.
High price point for the amount of content, leading to concerns about the value for money.

story
500 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it compelling and immersive, while others describe it as simplistic or lacking depth. Many appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and the use of environmental details, such as audio tapes and visual cues, to enhance the narrative experience. However, several reviewers noted that the episodic format leaves the story feeling incomplete, with a desire for more content and development in future episodes. Overall, the game is recognized for its potential in VR storytelling, despite criticisms regarding its brevity and pacing.
- “The story is compelling and well-exposed.”
- “This game has an amazing atmosphere and story; I was hooked a couple of minutes in.”
- “The story is engaging, and the graphical and auditory effects are beautiful and immersive.”
- “The story is difficult to follow and not very engaging.”
- “The story wasn't strong, and the puzzles weren't strong, so I didn't really get into the game.”
- “The nearly nonexistent story makes no sense and the characters have no depth.”
graphics
245 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
30%
2%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising their beauty and immersive quality, particularly in the context of VR, while others note that they appear outdated or glitchy compared to modern standards. Some players highlight the stunning environments, dynamic lighting, and overall polish, making it one of the best-looking VR titles available. However, there are also criticisms regarding performance issues and the need for better visual design in certain areas, indicating that while the graphics are impressive, they may not meet everyone's expectations.
- “The graphics are truly impressive and the environments are immersive and very well designed.”
- “Fantastic visuals and stunning VR locations greet you in this mysterious first-person adventure, full of awe and mystery.”
- “The graphics are amazing even on a lower-end GPU and the story is very engaging and interesting... I can't wait for more!”
- “The graphics are outdated and so is the gameplay.”
- “Graphics constantly glitch or are illegible.”
- “I cannot recommend this game for the price; the teleport system in this game is one of the least intuitive I have used, the graphics are muddy, the game performs very poorly, the character models seem off and small, the puzzles are easy, and there are very few of them.”
gameplay
221 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
5%
Overall, the gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its short length (typically around 1.5 to 2.5 hours) and simplistic mechanics, which often include easy puzzles and limited interactivity. While some praised the innovative VR mechanics, such as the backpack inventory system and immersive environments, others criticized the outdated graphics and clunky movement controls, particularly the teleportation mechanic. Despite its polished presentation and engaging story, many players felt the price did not justify the amount of gameplay offered, leading to concerns about replay value and overall content.
- “Another strong point of this game is puzzles - this game combines a great balance between puzzle complexity and amount/quality of tips and the use of VR mechanics.”
- “The mechanics of this game really utilize VR controls and potential, something other games seem to struggle with sometimes.”
- “The graphics are beautifully done, the gameplay was inspiring, the puzzles were difficult, and more importantly... it made me really excited for the next episode!”
- “The graphics are outdated and so is the gameplay.”
- “Only played about 30 minutes so far and want to state that the motion mechanics make it almost unplayable.”
- “With under two hours of underwhelming gameplay, force teleport movement, stupid easy puzzles, and set character animations that pace through solid objects, this game was not worth the sale price.”
atmosphere
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
76%
21%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, featuring stunning visuals, effective sound design, and a compelling world that draws players in. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to create a sense of presence, with detailed environments and atmospheric storytelling that enhance the overall experience. While some players note that the gameplay may be short or puzzle-light, the rich atmosphere remains a standout feature that captivates and resonates with players.
- “This game has oodles of atmosphere and gorgeous colors and shadow effects the likes of early Disney would be proud of.”
- “The atmosphere of this game is incredible, the puzzles are challenging, and the audiolog storytelling is incredibly immersive.”
- “The atmosphere, the story, the music, the puzzles, it all comes together to create an amazing experience.”
- “This episode begins a bit slowly, with the atmosphere seeming a bit understated.”
- “Yes it is short, yes there isn't a whole lot of play elements, other than a few puzzles, but the atmosphere and environments really immerse you in the story.”
- “The fairly simple puzzle and discovery game mechanics are bolstered by a no-cutscene approach to storytelling while excellent visual and sound direction lend to the atmosphere.”
music
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
36%
5%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. Composed by notable artists like Jeremy Soule, the soundtrack is described as outstanding, fitting seamlessly into the game's narrative and environment. Overall, the combination of great music, sound design, and voice acting contributes significantly to the immersive and polished feel of the game.
- “The atmosphere, the story, the music, the puzzles, it all comes together to create an amazing experience.”
- “The best part about this game is the music; wow, the music is what immerses you into this world the best.”
- “Fantastic music by Jeremy Soule and others, with some cute, short puzzles and fantastic set pieces, locations, and characters that make you want to play the second episode as soon as you can.”
- “The visuals and music are always welcome but at a point, it’s more like watching a movie when you’ve 'cracked the code'.”
- “The ending is a lot of eye candy and upbeat music, that contrasts with the gloomy main part of the game.”
- “Music and SFX also appropriate and well done.”
replayability
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
58%
36%
Overall, the game has been criticized for its extremely low replayability, with many users noting that it offers only a couple of hours of gameplay and lacks engaging mechanics to encourage multiple playthroughs. While some players appreciated the immersive experience and story, they felt that the short duration and minimal replay value do not justify the price, leading to a consensus that it is better suited for those interested in narrative rather than replayability.
- “Replayability is probably very low as it's a story and it was not very long, but it was enjoyable and I will definitely buy chapter 2.”
- “While I would say it's a very worthwhile VR experience to showcase what it can do, from a buyer's standpoint: consider something with more depth or more replayability unless this game is discounted.”
- “Absolutely no replay value.”
- “The price is steep for around two hours of gameplay, and I don't think the game has much replay value.”
- “As a story-based game, there isn't much (any) replayability, although VR in general is starving for more story and less arcade.”
optimization
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
37%
30%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems. However, others noted that the game runs smoothly on higher-end hardware, with good graphics and controls, and some users appreciated the in-game options to adjust performance settings. Overall, while there are reports of optimization oddities, particularly related to the Unity engine, many players found the performance acceptable after updates or adjustments.
- “Performance is very good on a minimum spec.”
- “It has really good controls (you can even rotate your play area), some nice challenges, and is perfectly optimized for VR.”
- “Considering the graphics, the performance of the game is great.”
- “Definitely not optimized, or even nominally updated for use on an Oculus Rift.”
- “I bought this game when it first came out, and had to refund it as it was stuttering like crazy no matter what I did.”
- “Of all the VR games in my library, The Gallery had the least steady performance, leading to lots of frame skipping and nausea.”
stability
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting a significant number of bugs and glitches that can detract from the experience. While some users found the gameplay enjoyable despite these issues, others experienced game-breaking problems that hindered their progress. Overall, the game is considered to be quite buggy, particularly on certain VR headsets, but it still offers moments of fun and immersive gameplay.
- “This game is really buggy considering how highly recommended it is!”
- “All my continuity feels broke and I just ... stopped and, mainly because of the buggy refresh and tracking, I returned it.”
- “I would love to play, but I can't make it past the first area because of the bugginess.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as subtle and enjoyable, contributing to a mix of adventure and mystery. While some players find it reminiscent of classic titles like Monkey Island, they note it lacks the same level of comedic fun. Overall, the game features interesting characters and a satisfying blend of humor with exploration and puzzles, though some feel the price may deter long-term engagement.
- “Humor is subtle and enjoyable, and the voices don't stick out as being particularly bad or unbelievable like some games.”
- “A mysterious, beautiful adventure with some good humor thrown in.”
- “This game had a great mix of humor, mystery, challenge, suspense, and exploration.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, with many puzzles described as unrealistic and lacking in engagement. While some appreciate the production quality and voice work, the repetitive nature of the puzzles and excessive backtracking detract from the overall experience, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction, especially given the game's price point.
- “Completely unrealistic and tedious.”
- “The puzzles are more random or tedious than interesting, but the production quality is good.”
- “The game needs a lot more fun exploration and less tedious puzzles.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a mixed emotional experience with the game, highlighting moments of immersion and genuine feelings of discomfort and pain during gameplay. While some appreciate the emotional depth and are willing to invest in future content, others find the overall experience unsettling rather than uplifting.
- “The last couple of levels really made me feel immersed.”
- “On one part (minor spoiler) it made me feel as though I had real pain in my hand.”
- “However, if you love games that tug at your emotional cord, and don't mind paying for future chapters, Call of the Starseed is for you.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game has been widely criticized, with many users labeling it a cash grab due to its high price of $20, which they feel does not reflect the quality or content offered. Reviewers express frustration over misleading advertisements and perceive the game as an exploitation of the VR market's limited offerings at launch.
- “I cannot recommend this game for the price of $20; at that price, this game is actually nothing more than just a cash grab.”
- “Is this a cynical cash grab from a company that is exploiting the launch of VR by overcharging for a glorified demo because they know people will buy it due to the lack of titles at launch?”